Break up the I-25 drive with latkes, nostalgia, magic shows and more

By Tiffany Thompson

It’s a common drive. Perhaps for business, pleasure, a brief escape or maybe just for the joy of driving. Whatever the reason, thousands of people find themselves driving to and from Denver and Colorado Springs. But what lies in between these two places? Here’s a hint: You’ll get to exit I-25 for a bit.

Below is a list of establishments located in Littleton, Castle Rock, Monument and Black Forest that will add a new experience to a common drive from point A to point B.

Latke Love, Littleton

Latkes are a well loved food of the Jewish tradition that are served in various delis and restaurants around Colorado, but are seldom the main focus of an eatery. Latke Love in Littleton challenges this by specializing in serving up modern twists on the traditional crispy potato cake.

One of the unexpected but exciting flavor combinations includes the Oy Vey Caliente: crispy latkes topped with hatch green chile, cheddar cheese and an over-easy egg that can be served with meat or as a vegetarian option.

Another playfully named choice is Rabbi, I’m confused. This dish consists of latkes topped with pulled pork, BBQ sauce and pickled red onion.

Of course, diners can also enjoy a traditional plate of latkes served with applesauce and whipped cream or sour cream, as well as other Jewish fare like blintzes (subject to availability) and knishes.

Latke Love is open for Breakfast and Brunch, Thursday through Sunday.

Selections from the Chocolate Therapist in Littleton, Colorado — Photo provided

The Chocolate Therapist, Littleton

Founded by Julie Nygard, The Chocolate Therapist challenges the notion that chocolate can’t be nutritious.

Nygard, a certified nutritionist who wrote a book and gave a TedX talk about the health benefits of chocolate, combines her recipes with healthy ingredients such as organic oils and nuts. The chocolates are free of harmful additives and artificial ingredients, and are soy and gluten free.

The store also has a gourmet espresso bar and a self-serve wine bar, so patrons can enjoy a hot cup of coffee or shop for a wine in-store to find the perfect chocolate pairing.

Additionally, the chocolates come in both dark and milk varieties, defying the idea that only dark chocolate can be healthy.

The Chocolate Therapist is open Sunday-Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., so grab a sweet treat for the road or for home.

Fifty-Two-80s, Littleton

Walking into Fifty-Two-80s feels like a dream populated with the lost relics of a childhood in a totally radical era. Familiar playtime faces like the Cabbage Patch Kids, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Gumby and many others greet customers as they walk through this time capsule and travel back to the 1980s.

Fifty-Two-80s is a collectors shop that specializes in toys, collectibles, artifacts, and more that date back to the ‘80s and the early 1990s. Aside from the specific time period that the shop focuses on, there is no limit to what might be found there on a given day. The website is appropriately designed to look and feel like a retro videogame, and it shows a wide assortment of many favorites of decades past: Back to the Future memorabilia, displays of Star Wars action figures and accessories, a Mogwai plushie, and cool vintage jacket patches of rock bands and superheroes. Plus, for sports fans, Fifty-Two-80s carries a large selection of vintage Denver Broncos merch.

However, the pictures on the website do not ensure availability at the store. The store has an ever-changing inventory based on what the owners can track down. For curious customers who just want to relive a little bit of 80s nostalgia and see the familiar faces of their former toys, Fifty-Two-80s must be the place – and who knows, it might be your lucky day.

Theatre of Dreams, Castle Rock

Those who are looking for a mysterious, sensational and unique type of entertainment can check out the Theatre of Dreams in Castle Rock.

Since 2003, owners and magicians Joe Givan and Carol Massey have been showcasing their illusions to mystified crowds at their famous magic theatre. Throughout the year, the venue showcases the acts of Givan and Massey in addition to hosting traveling magicians.

The Theatre of Dreams also offers a kids camp, night seances, and private parties. Visit the Theatre of Dreams website to book any of these services, or to view their calendar for upcoming shows.

Colorado Pinball Pub, Monument

The Colorado Pinball Pub is the premier place for both pinball wizards and casual flippers. The Monument location offers a large selection of pinball games, a fully stocked whiskey bar with 200-plus selections, food and skeeball. Recurring events include the weekly Wednesday pinball league, Thursday trivia nights, Whiskey Wednesday, where interested individuals can taste selections from their large whiskey collection while learning about the spirit.

This family-owned business has been long established in Littleton, with the second location in Monument opening last year.

The Colorado Pinball Pub in Monument is open Monday to Friday, with varying closing times depending on the day of the week.

Monument Rock, Monument

It wouldn’t be Colorado if this list didn’t include at least one spot in between Denver and Colorado Springs to stop and connect with the outdoors.

Located just off I-25, the tall, white tower serves as a landmark with a surrounding 2.7 mile trail, making the trip to Monument Rock a great choice for beginner hikers.

The landmark is surrounded by a forest and is positioned near a reflection pond, giving hikers a chance to take in a variety of natural elements.

Monument Rock is an excellent choice for travelers wishing to stop, stretch their legs, and take in some scenic views on the drive between Denver and Colorado Springs.

The famed cheese wheel pasta at the Black Forest Cafe north of Colorado Springs — Photo provided

Black Forest Bistro, Black Forest/Colorado Springs

In the heart of the unincorporated community of Black Forest, one of the last places to drive through before hitting Colorado Springs proper, lies Black Forest Bistro.

This casual, upscale restaurant is run by Deanna Johnson, who has made a name for herself as a chef and a manager in California, where she served celebrities and heads of state before moving to Colorado to open her own restaurant. About the location, chef Deanna loves the community and the unique quality of her restaurant. “We are a very close knit community. The Black Forest is mostly acreage homes and many own livestock. I love that we are in an old hunting cabin and not just another strip mall place. The community is very supportive and we also give back to the community in many ways,” she says.

One distinctive Black Forest Bistro offering is the cheese wheel experience, or pasta alla ruota. Inspired by Chef Deanna’s travels to Italy and Las Vegas, she noticed a hole in the market: not many restaurants offer tableside cheesewheel pasta.

The cheesewheels themselves come straight from Parma, Italy, every 6-8 weeks (as an added note of authenticity, their pasta comes from Italy as well). Chef Deanna describes the experience this way: “We hollow out the wheel and put the scrapings into our hot cream that helps make the sauce. The pasta and cream is brought out hot on a cart and put into the cheese wheel where it makes the best alfredo you have ever had. Our staff who makes it tableside gives you some history and fun facts about the Parmesan wheels.We have a variety of add ons like chicken, Broccolini, shrimp, lobster, truffle etc.”

The cheesewheel experience is only available Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7-8 p.m. Reservations usually book out 1-2 weeks in advance.

Tiffany Thompson is a Colorado-born writer and musician. In addition to her creative pursuits, she spends her time reading, checking out the Denver music scene, and watching movies with her partner and their cat.